Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls

66%
Game Brain Score Based on 243 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls Game Cover
XSEED and ACQUIRE reached back into the past to bring Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls to modern PCs, but does this dusty dungeon crawler hold up? Our review.
Starting at €14.99Buy now
Get on Steam

"Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls" is a dungeon crawler RPG that updates the classic series with vibrant visuals and sound. Create a party of six, choose their characteristics, and venture into treacherous dungeons filled with vicious monsters. Manage resources, accept quests, and upgrade equipment in the town hub, leading your group from paupers to heroes in this old-school challenge.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Play​station Vita
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 243 reviews
story8 positive mentions
grinding29 negative mentions
  • Faithful to the classic Wizardry experience, offering a nostalgic dungeon crawling adventure.
  • Character customization and class changes provide depth and variety in gameplay.
  • Challenging combat and exploration create a rewarding experience for fans of hardcore RPGs.
  • Lacks tutorials and guidance, making it difficult for new players to understand mechanics.
  • User interface is clunky and not optimized for PC, leading to frustrating navigation.
  • Grindy gameplay with severe RNG elements can lead to tedious experiences and character setbacks.
  • story56 mentions

    The game's story is largely considered minimal and lacks depth, serving primarily as a backdrop for the dungeon-crawling gameplay. Players note that while there are quests and a basic plot, the focus is on grinding and exploration rather than narrative development, with many describing the story as bland or almost nonexistent. Overall, those seeking a rich storyline or character growth may be disappointed, as the game prioritizes classic dungeon mechanics over storytelling.

    • “The quests and heroes feature is a mixed blessing, allowing players to take on the game's challenges with a pre-made party or by creating their own characters from scratch, similar to the original game.”
    • “3 different dungeons to explore, a neat little story to follow and different endings to choose from (don't get me wrong, story isn't the focus of the game... don't expect anything exceptional)...”
    • “The DLC story is much more interesting and involving, however, so after you beat the main game, definitely give it a try.”
    • “It's an old-school, traditional, slow as molasses dungeon crawl with no frills and no story, no depth, and no character growth beyond the basics.”
    • “The game is really basic where the plot meets the minimum requirements to focus on the gameplay of a classic dungeon crawler where you grind, min-max your party and explore the maze.”
    • “Don't expect an elaborate story.”
  • graphics41 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the updated anime-style artwork and high-resolution visuals that enhance the overall experience. While some players appreciate the modern aesthetic and character designs, others feel that the graphics do not significantly surpass those of older titles, and the user interface can be cumbersome. Overall, the visuals are generally considered appealing, though opinions vary on their alignment with traditional gaming aesthetics.

    • “The graphics have been nicely updated, while still staying true to the original aesthetic, and many of the mechanics remain unchanged.”
    • “The high resolution graphics are awesome, the characters are hot and sexy, the music comfortable, and it also included many 'quality of life' improvements.”
    • “The artwork is fantastic, but the UI is made for a controller.”
    • “The graphics were grainy and the distorted MIDI music chimed along in the background in that way that only dated games did, but there was something compelling about it that kept me playing long into the dark hours of the night.”
    • “Graphics are so-so by today's standards and gameplay is archaic, but that's what I like in this title.”
    • “If you're looking for something to stretch your graphics card, this won't be it.”
  • gameplay40 mentions

    The gameplay is a modern homage to classic Wizardry titles, featuring familiar races and classes alongside new mechanics like class skills and a quest system. While it retains the challenging dungeon-crawling essence, players may find the lack of tutorials and poorly explained mechanics frustrating, leading to a trial-and-error experience. Overall, it offers a blend of nostalgia and quality-of-life improvements, appealing to fans of old-school RPGs, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more polished or complex gameplay experience.

    • “It feels like a modern take on the races, dungeon crawling, and battle mechanics of my favorite Wizardry in the franchise, Wizardry 5, with the classic five races (human, elf, dwarf, gnome, and porklu) and eight jobs (fighter, mage, priest, thief, bishop, samurai, lord, and ninja) of the classic games pre-Wiz 6, as well as a few new features, like class skills, upper floor maps (and a spell that can map areas for when you get to lower floors), spell names that are to the point about what they do, a quest system, and more, just in an anime wrapper.”
    • “Traditional Wizardry game (Wizardry 1 - 3) with plenty to entertain mechanically in a traditional dungeon crawler / blobber style.”
    • “Exploring the labyrinth as my characters' spell slots and resources dwindle away from battles of attrition, wondering what I'll confront next, and above all a blissful ignorance of how the game mechanics all work, some actual mystery and going with my gut because the game just lets you learn by doing and has minimal explanation for itself - what an absolute joy.”
    • “Also don't play these kinds of games if you're looking for a fair game because this game likes to kick your ass with poorly explained mechanics and let you flail around until you figure stuff out.”
    • “RNG-overladen battles against random numbers of opponents who use random skills for random amounts of damage (a problem which the permadeath mechanic only aggravates, though the game mercifully allows you to savescum freely); incoherent dungeon design on a level never seen before—Wizardry 1, the game that started the subgenre, was less ugly and baffling; flag-maze quests that force you to blindly wander either previously cleared floors or the hallowed halls of GameFAQs.”
    • “The biggest issues with this game is the severe lack of mechanics being explained at any time.”
  • grinding29 mentions

    The reviews highlight that the game is heavily focused on grinding, often leading to a tedious experience for players. While some find the grinding addictive and rewarding, many criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth, with minimal story elements and an overemphasis on farming for items and character stats. Overall, the grinding aspect is a defining feature, appealing primarily to those who enjoy min-maxing and extensive character customization.

    • “This game is unbelievably tedious, even for a remake of an early wizardry game.”
    • “Too much focus on grinding and less about actually exploring the dungeon.”
    • “The grinding is boring and endless... if you are a fan of the original wizardry games, this is more of the same with a facelift.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its charm and quality, while others find it annoying or repetitive, particularly the vocal elements. Despite the varied opinions, many agree that the soundtrack contributes to the overall atmosphere, enhancing the gameplay experience. Overall, the music is seen as a notable aspect, though it may not appeal to everyone.

    • “The artwork is wonderful and the music is great!”
    • “I knew this game was Xseed by the theme song and had to have it.”
    • “As far as sound, it has nice music and general effects.”
    • “Horrible annoying music, nasty interface that could be better suited to a mobile phone.”
    • “The music actually thumps in some places, but the voices can become a little grating if you're not prepared for repetitive anime shrill.”
    • “The graphics were grainy and the distorted MIDI music chimed along in the background in that way that only dated games did, but there was something compelling about it that kept me playing long into the dark hours of the night; mystery.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game has been reported as buggy, indicating significant stability issues that may affect gameplay.

    • “The game is incredibly buggy, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “I encountered numerous stability issues that disrupted my gaming experience.”
    • “Frequent crashes and glitches have made it hard to enjoy the game.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers a solid level of replayability, thanks to its three full dungeons and additional DLC content, which provide ample opportunities for players to revisit and enjoy the experience.

    • “The three full dungeons, including the DLC, provide ample content and a satisfying level of replayability.”
    • “Each playthrough offers new challenges and surprises, making it hard to put the game down.”
    • “The variety of character builds and choices ensures that no two runs feel the same.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is characterized by an immersive and oppressive dungeon design that effectively draws players in, creating a sense of being overwhelmed and engulfed by the environment.

    • “The dungeon design feels like it wants to pull you in and drown you, creating a wonderfully oppressive atmosphere.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of its haunting world.”
    • “Every sound and visual detail contributes to an atmosphere that is both eerie and captivating.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is largely criticized as nonexistent, indicating a lack of depth and growth in the characters throughout the game.

    • “Character development is nonexistent.”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any meaningful growth throughout the game.”
    • “There are no significant choices that impact character arcs, making the development feel shallow.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

61% average critic score

Buy Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls

Play time

32hMedian play time
24hAverage play time
7-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games